Automatic air-inlet valve for internal-combustion engines



Dec. 23, 1930. J, ARDERN 1,786,283

AUTOMATIC AIR INLET VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Jan. 4, 1927 according to one embodiment of the inven- Patented Dec. 23, 1930 fsArEs PATENT OFFIQE JAMES nrr'rno'r AIR-BERN, or EAST xnw, MELBOURNE, vro'ron'ra, AUSTRALIA AUTOMATIC A R-INLET vALvn non INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Application filed January 4, 1927, Serial No. 158331, and in Australia April 15, 1926.

This invention relates to an improved automatic air inlet valve, and more particularly to an airinlet valve whichhas been devised for attachment to the induction pipe or manifold of internal combustion engines at a point between the throttle of the carburetter and the engine cylinders. V

The primary object of the invention is to provide an air inlet valve of simple and eificient construction which will'automatically admit a supply of atmospheric air into the engine cylinder or cylinders with the fuel in accordance with the requirements of the engine duringrunning and without manual attention or manipulation. By means of the invention fuel consumption is reduced.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the air entering the induction pipe through said valve is thoroughly mixed with the fuel by creating a swirling or vortical action of the air stream as it enters said induction pipe. e

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein V Figure 1 is a view, largely in elevation, of an automatic air inlet valve constructed tion.

Figure 2-is a view in plan of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a central vertical section of the construction seen in Figure 1. V

Figure 4 is a sectional plan taken on lines AA of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an invertediplan view of. the barrel portion of the valve casing showinga spiral or helix fitted therein and adapted to set up a. swirling action of the as it enters the induction pipe or manifold. of the engine.

Figure 6 is a detail view in section of an elbow carrying the spiral or helix and designed for connecting the improved valve to the induction pipe when it is not convenient to attach the valve direct to such pipe.

Figure 7 is a sectional view illustrating an alternate form of valve construction.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are detail views showing alternate forms and arrangements of springs adapted for normally maintaining the valve in closed position.

In the drawings the numeral '2 designates the'upper portion of a main casing and 3 the lowerportion of same. The lower portion 3 is furnished with an external screw thread 4; engaging an internal thread that isf-ormed in the upper portion 2 so asto rigidly secure these two parts of the valve casing.

Theupper portion 2 of the casing is pro vided with aninternal valve seating 5 to accommodate a spring controlled non-return air inlet valve 6 which is adapted to be opened by the engine suction against the action of a spring as hereinafter described.

It will be understood that any well known or approved type of valve may be employed, a preferred form being shown in Figure 3 where the valveis of conical shape and rigidly but detachably secured to-the lower end of a valve stem or spindle 7. This valve is furnished with a jointing ring 8 of fibre, leather or other suitable material which will form an effective air-tight joint. with the valve seat 5.

Fitted to the lower end of the valve stem 7 is a concave-convex disc 9 which is rigidly but detachably secured to the lower end of said valve stem by a nut 10 the diameter of said disc being slightly larger than that of the valve 6 so that a narrow annular air passage 9 is formed between the edge of the disc and the wall of the valve casing. The disc 9 is preferablysecured in the position seen in Figure 3' with its concave side facing the valve 6 from which the disc is spaced by a distance piece 9 If desired, however, said disc may be reversed to expose its convex side to the valve in which case the distance piece 9 is dispensed with, the central part of the disc being held directly against the bottom of the valve by the nut 10.

The purpose of the concavo-convex disc 9, disposed close beneath and concentrically with the valve,is to form a suction chamber or pocket 9 between said disc and the valve and thus assist the action of the engine Suction upon the valve so as to readily and positively open the latter according to the requirements of the enginep rollers 14L revolvable upon pins 15 or upon any other suitable supports which may be carried by oppositely disposed lugs 16 that are preferably formed integrallywith and.

project outwardly from the upper portion of the casing.

The flat spring leaves 13 are so arranged that they maintain constant pressure upon the valve stem 7 so as to normally hold the valve 6 in close contact with the valve seat 5. The lower portion 3 of the main casing or body is constructed to form a chamber 17 wherein may be fitted a sheet of finely woven wire gauze 18 of suitable mesh to form a filter whichprevents particles of foreign mattcr from being drawn into the induction pipe with the air.

Atmospheric air is drawn into the upper portion 2 of the casing or body through a series of holes or ports 19 which are preferably, but not necessarily formed in spaced relationship about the vertical walls of said casing above the valve 5. 'These air inlet ports 19 are also covered with line wire gauze 20 to prevent foreign matter entering the valve casing.

The pressure or tension of the spring leaves 13 can be regulated by meansof an adjusting screw 21 which is screwed into the upper end of the valve stem 7 and adapted to-bear upon the upper spring leaf. This adjusting screw is 'lillllllSllOLlYVltll a milled head 22 and a lock nut 23 to enable a fine adjustment to be effected so as to regulate the strength of the spring.

The spring proper central position by a guide pin which extends from the adjusting screw 2i and passes through a central hole in the spring. This pin is slidably accommodated in a guide hole 25 that is formed in the lower portion of the valve stem 7.

To enable the valve casing to be readily attached to the induction pipe 27 of the engine a screwed nipple 26 extends from the lower portion 3 of the casing or body and is adapted to be screwed into a tapped hole formed in the induction pipe indicated in Figure 1.

In order that the air passing from the improved valve into the induction pipe will be thoroughly mixed with the combustile fuel therein a metal plug 28 may be rigidly secured within the nipple 26 and is constructed having a plurality of spirally or helically leaves 13 are maintained in inclined grooves or passages 29 which cause a swirling or vortical action to be imparted to the air as it enters the induction pipe. The air from the valve is thus thoroughly mixed with the combustible vapor before enter the combustion chamber and any liquid particles of fuel in the induction pipe are broken up by the swirling action of the air entering through the wall of the induction pipe.

In some cases it is not convenient to attach the valve casing direct to the induction pipe as seen in Figure 1, owing for insta ice, to the proximity of other parts which require that the valve should be disposed at a distance from the induction pipe. In such cases I may provide anelbow 31 preferably of tapering formation the upper or outer end of which is adapted to be screwed on to the nipple 26 whilst its lower or inner cm. is screwed into a tapped hole formed in the induction pipe 27 as seen in Figure 6. In this embodiment the plug 28 having the spirally inclined air pas. s. 29 isrigidly secured within the inner end portion of said elbow.

In lieu of the reversible disc 9, the suction chamber 9 may be formed as shown in Figure 7 by extending the bottom of the valve 6 so as to form a hollow box-like structure 32 in the side or bottom walls of which are arranged one or more holes or perforations whereby the action of the engine suction within the suction chamber 9' ensures positive and correct opening of the valve against the action of its controlling spring.

IVhilst the valve controlling spring 13 is preferably constructed and arranged as seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying dra wings it will be evident that any other suitable type of spring may be employed for applying the required pressure on the valve (5. For instance coiled wire spring 30 in Fig. 8, coiled ribbon spring-31 in Fig. 9, and double fiat spring 32 in Fig. 10, of the drawings may be utilize d to suit circumstances or requirements. In either of these instances the spring may be arranged to press upwardly upon the valve stem 7 which may be fitted with the adjusting nut 22 for varying the strength of the spring as aforesaid.

In order to manually vary the effective area of the air inlet ports 19 in the wall of the valve casing, a circumferentially adjustable ring 19 may be mounted to turn about said casing indicated in Figures 1, 3, 8 and 9. This adjustable ring is provided with circumferentially spaced air inlet ports corresponding to the'ports 19 in the valve casing so that by turning said ring the latter ports may be opcned or closed to any desired extent.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device for the purpose indicated consisting in: the combination of a valve casing having means, of connection to the induction lit) ' spring supported externally of the casing pipe of an internal combustion engine and a passage leading from the interior of said casing through said connecting means, a valve mounted within said casing and adapted to control the admission of air through said passage to the engine, a valve stem passing slidably through the wall of said casing, a plate and acting upon said valve stem to normally retain the valve in closed position against the action of the engine suction, and screw adjustgine, a valve stem passing slidablythrough,

the wall of said casing, a plate spring supported externally of the casing and acting upon said valve stem to normally retain the. valve in closed position against the actlon of the engine suction, said plate: spring extending transversely through an opening in said valve stem and an adjusting screw engaging said spring within said opening to vary the pressure thereof upon said valve.

3. Ina device for the purpose indicated the combination 0f a valve casing having means of connection to the induction pipe of an internal combustion engine and a passage leading from the interior of saidcasing through said connecting means, a valve mounted within said casing and adapted to control the admission of air through said pas i sage to the engine, a valve stem passing slidably through the wall of said casing, a spring acting upon said valve stem to normally re-' tain the valve in closed position against the action of the engine suction, said spring comprising a plurality of plate spring leaves supported at their ends upon external lugs carricd by said casing, said leaves passing 1nto a transverse opening in said valve stem and screw adjusting means racting upon said spring leaves to vary the pressure thereof upon said valve. V

4:. In a device for the purposeindicated the combination of a valve easing having means of connection to the induction pipe of an internal combustion engine and a passage leading from the interior of said casing through said connecting means, a valve mounted w1th in said casing and adapted to c'ont-rolthe admission of air through said passage to the engine, a valve stem passingslidably through the top of said casmg, a sprmgsupported e tternally of the casing and acting upon said valve stem to normally retain the valve in closed position against the action of the engine suction, said spring comprising a pinrality'of plate spif'in'g leaves freelysupported; at their opposite ends upon external lugs carl'ied by 'saifd casing, said leaves passing trans; versely through ansopening in said valve stem,

and an adjusting screw passingaxially into the upper end of the valve-steinand adapted to'engage. the upper leaf ofsaidspring within said o s-eninggofithe valve stem.

na deviceffor the purpose indicated the combination-ofvalve casing having means'of, connectionto theinduction pipe of an internal"combustionengine and a passage leading from the interior of said caslng through said connecting means, a, valve mounted within said casing and adapted to control the admission of air through said passage to theengine, a valve stem passing slidably through the top of said casing, a spring acting upon said valve stem to normally retaln the valve 1n closed posit-1011 against the action of the engine suction, said spring comprising at least one plate spring leaf freely supported at its end upon an external lug'carried by said casing, said leaf passing transversely through an opening in said valve stem, an adjusting screw passing axially into the upper end of the valve stem and adapted to engage said spring within said opening of the valvestem,'and a guide pin depending from said adjusting screw and passing through a hole in said plate sprin 6. A device for the purpose indicatedcom prising in combination a valve casing having a lower section provided with an externally threaded nipple which is adapted for connection to the induction pipe of an internal combustion engine, a passage extending from the interior of said'casing through said nipple, an upper section screwed to the top of said lower section of 'the'casing, air inlet ports formed in said upper section, a valve mounted within said casing between said inlet ports and said passage through the nipple, a valve stem passing slidably through the top of said upper section, oppositely disposed lugs upstanding from said upper section externally of the casing, an opening formed transversely through said valve stem, plate spring leaves passingthrough said opening and supported at their ends upon said lugs, the edges of said leaves converging towards their ends, and an adjusting screw passing axially into the upper end of said stem and adapted to engageat its lower end against said spring.

7 A device for the purpose indicated comprising-in combination a valve casing having means of connection to the induction pipe of an internal combustion engine, a passage leading from the interior of said casing through said connecting means, air inlet openings formedin said casing, a valve mounted within said casing between said inlet openings and said passage, a plate spring adapted to normally close said valve against the action of the engine suction, said spring consisting of at least one leaf extending transversely through a slidable stein of said valve, the edges of said leaf converging from its centre which presses against said valve stem to its ends which are 'freely supported to move longitudinally, and an adjusting .sc-rew adapted to engage the central part of said spring whereby the latter is flexed to vary In the spring pressure on said valve.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES LIP-TROT ARDERN. 

